Nothing Happening

Hello,

Earlier I was wondering what to write about since nothing exciting had been happening. It seemed like a good time to go to the garden and try out the organic bug spray recipe that I found on the internet, the source of all good information.

Leroy decided to go with me as he had just finished putting up another shelf in his bedroom clothes closet. It was a pleasant walk down the block. We stopped on a corner to say a few words to a guy who was working on a house. Just as we started up again we heard a great bang, looked up to saw a truck/suv impacting with a utility pole. The vehicle careened back into the street while the pole swung loose and wedged into the ground. The guy we had been talking to came closer. We all saw that the pole had been sheared off close to the ground with the top and the wires secured in two marvelous trees. It seemed not an emergency since the trees were holding the wires. Unfortunately Leroy did not have the non emergency police number in his phone so he called Robin who has access to everything. She called back with that number and we reported the happening.

Police came a few minutes later. Our description of the vehicle was limited to color and type. After that we went on to the community garden, did our thing, and walked back to see the power truck along with two police cars. They were blocking the street. The police officer waved at us, came over, and told us they had gotten the person. “How did you do that from our flimsy description?” I wondered.

The police officer laughed, “Well you said black and SUV. He had pulled into a close service station. He tried to deny any involvement, but there were dents and wood chips in his SUV.  He said he had reached into the back seat to do something with one of his children; consequently he swerved across the road.”

Parents keep your eye on the road, if needed pull over and stop. It is the much safer option. I think I have seen all my children perform this very action of reaching into the back seat.

Nothing happens indeed. I am happy to have been half a block away when it occurred. If we had not stopped to talk we could easily have been right there.

Paula

Planned Recreation

Hello,

Leroy and I never seem to plan any time off activities. Well this month we/Leroy did much better. At the beginning of the month Leroy started asking me what we should do for this day. After discussion and flinging around possibilities, we settled on going to a State Park. At one point we had talked about visiting all of the state parks, but really had not done that. Last night it rained. It seemed that trails would be quite wet and possibility muddy, so instead we decided to ride about 12-13 miles north on the bike trail. If we had the energy in the afternoon we could check out a park that is fairly close and new to us because then it would be much drier.

It was a little cool when we started and quite damp, but not too much. I had a lot of trouble keeping up with Leroy has he raced along. We were both pleased to see many runners out enjoying the trail. Finally as we waited for a stop light I told Leroy that my tires were low. He tried to put air in the front tire, but it collapsed. He then tried his tire pump with no better luck. A guy stopped to ask if we needed help, but he had no pump. He assured he would be more helpful if we were still there on his way back.

Leroy talked about walking to a store to get a new pump. I knew that we were on the street that has a bike store on it. We started walking in that direction. My memory thought it was close, but of course that was in a car. About a 1/4 mile later, I have to go to the bathroom. A vet’s office was there so I want in and gave them my sob story. As I was leaving I asked about the bike shop. It was past the next distant stop light. Groan. I told that to Leroy and he then remembered that I should have another inner tube in my bag. Sure enough it was there and he changed the tire. He then tried to pump it up. It got a bit of air, but not as much as it should. None the less we rode on.

At a place where people can park and get on the trail, Leroy spotted a large group unloading bikes. He went and asked, “Does anyone have a good bike pump?”

One man did have just such a floor pump with a gauge on it. My pressure for both the front and the back tires was at 25 when it should be up to 80. What a difference that made. My brakes did not squeal anymore and I did not bounce so much. This man also commented that I was probably working very hard. That must be why I had such trouble keeping up with Leroy.

The ride home was certainly a lot faster. I am grateful for the good people that are all over. Help is available.

Paula

Do we make it rain?

Hello,

Leroy was having a hard time deciding to take the car or bike to work. I told him I could come get him if it rained and maybe he could make it rain by riding the bike. Unlike some parts of Iowa we need a bit of rain. He headed off on his bike to the museum with plans to go to the church in the afternoon. At 12:30 I got the call. Seeing the rain on the window I knew what this was about even though I had grapes boiling on the stove. Much to my dismay while I was talking to Leroy the grapes boiled over. I turned off the burner and tried to put a good spin on it by thinking it would be easier to clean up than some things because it had not burned on.

I drove to the museum in the diminishing rain, called Leroy letting him know I had arrived, and told him the rain was about done. He checked outside and decided that he could indeed ride to church. I drove out of the underground garage and about 30 seconds later big drops of rain were bouncing off the windshield. I pulled straight ahead into the parking lot across the way and was turning the car around as I saw Leroy come out of the garage and start to peddle furiously away. I honked the horn, but he paid no attention. I completed the turn and went after him. He was on the bridge by the time I caught up to him honking several times without being noticed. I indicated that I would wait for him across the bridge.

The rain was now more in the pelting stage. Unfortunately bikes do not fit in our cars without taking off the front wheel. We did find a bungee cord which Leroy used to “tie down” the trunk lid. I tried to drive carefully with no wild turns or speed changes. By the time we got to the church the rain had about stopped. At home I got the bike out and felt that it was in ok shape. Leroy wondered if the paint job would be damaged each time there was a stretch and bounce back on that bungee cord doing what it was designed for.

Did we do our part to make it rain?

Paula

Happy but tired

Hello,

Yesterday Leroy and I canned 13 quarts of applesauce. What satisfaction! I will have to say that I did the hardest part all by myself because I was wondering if there would be green beans to can as well. Leroy was busy at church and had a nursing home service in the afternoon. He helped after that. The hardest part was washing the apples. They had blackness on them that I could not decide if it were a fungus or acid rain. At any rate it came off with a good vegetable brush and much scrubbing pressure. I stand when I do this and my back, arms and hands would have liked to quit long before I had attacked the last apple.

When Leroy got home I had washed all, cut up enough for the first canner and had them on the stove cooking down. After that we went to the garden to pick beans. Luckily it was only enough to give us a couple meals. Either someone had picked or the beans have not done so well in the drier conditions. Leroy and I both were pleased that we did not have to do more work at the moment. I am hoping to can more beans a bit later, but if not that is ok too. We have been blessed by gaining much from this garden: zucchini, eggplant, kale, chard, lettuce, herbs, turnips, beets, and celery.

I still pray for our former neighbors. They are on my mind a lot. Their things are still in our garage so that means they have not been able to find a place to live. I am hoping the end of the month will provide an opportunity. I would like to visit with them, but do not know a phone number or where they are.

Even though I felt relieved when they left, I now do feel guilty about them leaving. The real thing is that I did not know how to help and seeing them there all of the time reminded me of my helplessness. Life is not full of clear cut answers for me. How can some people be so decisive? Why am I the way I am? Where is God in all of this and what is there for me to do?

Paula

Summer Busy

Hello,

Yesterday: up early to go to Tai Chi, home again, put bread in pans, mixed up granola, put it in the oven, stir every 15 minutes, when granola is done put bread in oven, wash apples, cut off many bruises, cut out worms, cut out unidentifiable objects, put in pans on stove with some water, boil apples, put apples in food mill, cool applesauce, put in refrigerator, get bread out of oven, let cool on table under towel, leave granola under towel on table, eat lunch, pack supper, wash dishes, change clothes, put on make-up, drive to work, and relax? After reading support, the library was quieter than it often is in the summer. So it almost felt relaxing.

Monday, as I pulled into the garage I heard a nose like the car dragged on the cement. When I investigated I saw that the tire on the back was flat. I told Leroy about that. He went out to put on the spare and he told me he would take that car to have the tire fixed. I went out in a bit to see how he was doing. He told me, “Not good. The side of the car is rusty. I got the old tire off and was just putting on the spare when I heard a crunching and the car went down on the spare and I can’t move it.”

He called his boss who has many car fixing possibilities. His boss came to help with his floor jack, but he had to drive to the garage that he rents some distance away. Once he got there it only took fifteen minutes. That is a good boss.

I am grateful that I was home when I noticed this. I am grateful that Leroy was not hurt. I am grateful that the tire is fixed.  I am grateful that we have enough money to buy a different car. Our problem is just looking for one and not knowing what is best. Son-in-law, Andy loves to car shop, but I am a little afraid that he will steer us to something that is more car than we need. Can you envision us zooming around in something sporty?

The applesauce tasted good and the apples cooked nicely so after work I picked up more apples. The bag I had was paper. I tried not to let it touch the ground, but it got much too heavy so I set it on the wet grass. When I tried to pick it up the bottom fell out along with most of the apples. In the trunk of the car I found two of my cloth bags. Filled the bags, put them in the car, and drove home muttering to myself about not using those bags in the first place. Today I canned applesauce. We now have eleven quarts for those winter months. I am so pleased. We like the homemade applesauce from organic apples and no sugar. If you figured out the cost of my labor it is quite expensive, that might even be the case using minimum wage, but it is satisfying.

Paula

Today

Hello,

I have settled my mind about the couple sleeping in the car. Maybe not found real solutions, but I have moved on to laundry and making bread. Perhaps it is those tasks that sooth my soul. The ordinariness of it is restful.

I will go to work today blessing the children because they will head back to school next week. Work life will then have a different focus. Who knows, it might even feel mundane and unexciting. Will I wish for the exciting days of summer once more?

It is to rain today and I hope that the clouds deliver. The community garden could use a good drink once more. Irrigation is not my philosophical strong position nor is it my desire to spend so much time doing it. So rain is welcome. I will soon have gathered in the laundry so that will not be an issue.

 I saw on the internet (The internet always knows!) that it is strengthens to spray tomatoes and peppers with a mixture of Epsom salts and water. I used an old cleaning bottle well aired and rinsed for the task. Clark thought I was spraying the tomatoes with Mr. Clean. He was sure I had passed around a bend. I think it might have helped the tomatoes, but no real way to tell because I do not do such things in a scientifically controlled manner. I just spray it on and say it might have helped. We still do not have a lot of tomatoes, but that seems to be typical for many other gardeners this year. The plant that I talk to in front of the house is doing the best, but will not produce enough to can much. I am happy to have many to eat and cook with at the moment.

Paula

Neighbors

Hello,

Every time I see the people and the car parked in front of the house I feel guilty, sad, and unresolved. No clear solution presents itself.  My landlord feels that they will have a difficult time finding a place to live because they have been evicted for relative problems in the past. No landlord will want to rent to them even though they are good renters or at least not much beyond the norm. However the relatives seem to come and create a different atmosphere. I told Leroy yesterday how tired I was and he commented, “It is emotionally exhausting, isn’t it?

That is certainly true and then I feel a bit bad about that because I have a nice home, plenty of space and even a garage. But there is that fear holding me back. I am not free because I am a renter to just invite anyone into my home to stay, but I am happy to hide behind that fact. So I am not better than if I could do it. I just read a book in which the author talked about fear being the biggest sin. Certainly has me thinking about that. I have also spent some time thinking about the Good Samaritan story. Am I crossing by on the other side of the road, even though they have asked nothing more of me than to store their things?

Now they have moved their car to be close to their daughter’s house, but still no apartment. I am ashamed to say I feel relief because I do not see them all the time. They have assured Leroy that they are trying very hard. Praying, praying for that good outcome. Wondering what happens to people if no one will rent to them.

I hope they feel safe there. Here there is their ex landlord and his almost violence along with their relatives.

Believe it or not I feel rather strongly that God wants us here, but I haven’t a clue what we are to be doing. Living and loving any way we can? I greet almost everyone I see and compliment them if they are doing something that helps me or the neighborhood. Generally brings a smile to their face. Doesn’t seem like much, but maybe more than I realize.

Paula